BROWNSVILLE, Texas — An eighth grader shot to death by police on Jan. 4 at Cummings Middle School was armed with a pellet gun that looked like a real handgun, according to police.

Jaime Gonzalez, 15, had plenty of time to lower the weapon when confronted by police, but chose not to, according to Interim Brownsville Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez, CBS News reports. Officers fired three times and struck Gonzalez at least twice.

Prior to the police confrontation, Gonzalez walked into a classroom and punched another boy in the nose.